Political Parties Contesting Election 2027

Bharatiya Janata Party — India's largest party by membership and the principal party of the ruling NDA at the Centre and in Punjab-neighbouring, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Manipur and Himachal Pradesh (as of 2026, in opposition in HP). Governs 5 of the 7 states going to the polls in 2027.

Chief: J. P. Nadda (National President)
Ideology: Nationalism, cultural conservatism, economic liberalism

Indian National Congress — India's oldest political party and the largest constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc. Currently governs Himachal Pradesh and is the principal opposition in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa.

Chief: Mallikarjun Kharge (President)
Ideology: Social democracy, secularism, centrism

Aam Aadmi Party — Formed out of the 2011 India Against Corruption movement, AAP governs Punjab and holds a growing presence in Goa and Gujarat, positioning itself as an alternative to both the BJP and Congress.

Chief: Arvind Kejriwal (National Convenor)
Ideology: Anti-corruption populism, welfarism

Bahujan Samaj Party — Founded by Kanshi Ram to champion Dalit and Bahujan representation, BSP remains a significant force in Uttar Pradesh politics under four-time former CM Mayawati, though its seat tally has declined since 2007.

Chief: Mayawati (National President)
Ideology: Social justice, Bahujan (Dalit-OBC-minority) representation

Communist Party of India (Marxist) — A Left party with a limited but historically rooted presence in pockets of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh trade-union politics, part of the broader Left Front.

Chief: M. A. Baby (General Secretary)
Ideology: Marxism, communism

National People's Party — Headquartered in Meghalaya, the NPP has expanded its footprint in Manipur and other North-Eastern states as a regional-federalist alternative to the national parties.

Chief: Conrad Sangma (President)
Ideology: Regionalism, federalism

Shiromani Akali Dal — India's oldest surviving regional party, historically the principal voice of Punjab's Sikh community and a long-time BJP ally (1996-2020) before splitting over the farm laws.

Chief: Sukhbir Singh Badal (President)
Ideology: Punjabi/Sikh regionalism, Panthic politics

Samajwadi Party — The principal opposition force in Uttar Pradesh, built on a Yadav-Muslim social base, leading the INDIA bloc's charge against the BJP-led NDA ahead of 2027.

Chief: Akhilesh Yadav (President)
Ideology: Socialism, OBC and minority representation

Rashtriya Lok Dal — Rooted in western Uttar Pradesh's Jat farming belt, RLD currently sits within the NDA alliance alongside the BJP.

Chief: Jayant Chaudhary (President)
Ideology: Farmer interests, Jat representation

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal — Born from the movement for a separate hill state, UKD contests on issues of hill-region identity and migration ('palayan') though its vote share has thinned since statehood in 2000.

Chief: Trivendra Singh Panwar (President)
Ideology: Uttarakhandi regionalism, statehood movement legacy

Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party — One of Goa's oldest regional parties and a recurring, if junior, coalition partner in state governments.

Chief: Sudin Dhavalikar (President)
Ideology: Goan regionalism

Revolutionary Goans Party — A younger regional outfit that won its first assembly seat in 2022 campaigning on Goan identity, land rights and unregulated migration.

Chief: Manoj Parab (President)
Ideology: Goan sub-nationalism, land and migration issues

Naga People's Front — Represents Naga political interests in Manipur's hill districts, historically allied with the BJP-led NDA at various points.

Chief: Chumben Murry (President)
Ideology: Naga regionalism

Kuki People's Alliance — A smaller party representing Kuki-Zo community interests in Manipur's hill constituencies, whose role has drawn wider attention amid the 2023-25 ethnic conflict.

Chief: Regional leadership
Ideology: Kuki-Zo community representation